Join Our Team: Head of Culture and Inclusion

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive

Our Head of Culture and Inclusion will join our team with a specific lens on cultural transformation which is key in relation to supporting our Trust vision and strategy. This role reports directly into the People Director and will be a member of the People Leadership team having one direct report (Inclusion & Diversity Manager)

Working Hours & Travel

This role follows 37 hours, 5 days a week, work pattern. This is a home‑based role, with UK wide travel to key sites.

Role Overview

In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for turning strategy into delivered outcomes through evidence-led programmes, strong governance, and clear accountability across leaders and teams. You will measurably strengthen an inclusive, high trust culture that enables performance and wellbeing; to increase colleague voice and engagement; and to ensure your Inclusion & Diversity ambitions translate into sustained behavioural change and business impact.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the development and delivery of a clear Culture & Inclusion strategy that embeds inclusion, belonging and fairness across the organisation.
Drive a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring inclusive behaviours, practices and decisions are actively reviewed, measured and evolved
Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior leaders, Boards and key stakeholders to influence inclusive leadership and organisational change.
Partner across the organisation to ensure culture and inclusion priorities are integrated into resourcing, talent, learning, performance and reward frameworks.
Operate credibly across fast paced, complex environments, balancing strategic focus with pragmatic delivery under pressure.
Champion inclusive, values led behaviours at all levels, adapting communication and influence to engage diverse audiences and workforce groups.
Use insight, data and qualitative feedback to assess cultural health and inclusion outcomes, translating findings into actionable improvement plans.
Ensure strong governance, planning and prioritisation of Culture & Inclusion initiatives to deliver impact with pace and consistency.
Act as a visible advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, supporting leaders and teams to role‑model inclusive practices and decision-making.

About You

You are an experienced culture transformation lead with demonstrable proven outcomes which have driven cultural change and made significant business impact. Confident influencing at all levels, you combine commercial awareness with a passion for belonging, fairness and continuous improvement.

Experience and Skill

Demonstrable evidence of building and delivering multi-year culture and inclusion and diversity roadmaps with measurable outcomes in complex organisations.
Demonstrated mastery of listening and insight methodologies, including survey design, driver analysis, segmentation and workforce lifecycle analytics, translating insight into clear, actionable priorities.
Deep expertise in inclusive leadership and systemic inclusion levers across policy, process, behaviours and environment, with a strong bias toward practical education, habit change and sustainable impact.
Proven experience designing governance frameworks, KPIs and benefits realisation measures, with regular reporting and assurance to Executive teams and Boards.
Confident and compelling communicator, able to craft simple, engaging narratives from complex data and influence effectively across senior stakeholders.
Strong credibility and lived experience working in partnership with colleague networks and communities, ensuring authentic representation, trust and meaningful engagement.

Contact & Application

If you would like more information or a briefing pack, please get in touch with the recruitment team at crt.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer

This is a middle manager role with a package commensurate.

Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits

Canal & River Trust

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Head of Culture and Inclusion